Accidental art: the joy of random photography

I am really digging photography. These days if all you have is a cheap camera, patience and a mindfulness for opportunity, you can come up with some pretty cool pictures.

I am a total amateur when it comes to taking pictures. I have no idea how I get some of the results I get. Taking pictures while kayaking does afford some amazing opportunities to get up close and personal, and patience can really pay off.

My technique is so random I’m almost embarrassed to share it but I figure if it works for me, it could work for you too. Here’s what I do:

When I go out kayaking, I mount my camera on a small tripod; it makes it easier to have a steady hold on the camera. It also gives you added height (aka, you can’t stand up in a kayak, so you hold the tripod over your head to get the picture).

My technique? Snap as many pictures as you can and sort through them later. Oftentimes I can’t even see what I am photographing because of the glare on the viewfinder so taking lots of pictures is a must. Digital photography makes that quite affordable.

My late cousin Donna loved to take pictures in the wilderness; she did it because she was an artist at heart but could not paint. I feel the same way. I see images and wish I could paint them. I love searching for opportunities and setting up shots. Sometimes you hit the jackpot like I did on my last trip.

The location is South Grafton, MA in the spot known as “Fisherville.” This is a truly beautiful site as you can see:

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It being June, the mountain laurel was in full bloom. I wish I could say what the other flowers were (and if you know, please leave a comment!) but they were lovely just the same:

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In my attempt to both zoom and focus I sometimes got the opposite of what I wanted! Yet the pictures look kind of cool anyway:

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I was excited to get this spider web (considering how much the boat was drifting!):

The jackpot was my close encounter with a chipmunk. I found him on a boulder in the middle of the stream. He froze long enough for several quick shots and then he jumped off (cheeks full of course) and quickly swam away. I had no idea chipmunks could swim. Super cute!

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While I would love to have an upgrade in my camera equipment (and I’m considering putting it on my Christmas wish list), you can get a lot done with your average digital camera.

If you’re an artist at heart and wish you could paint, try a camera and a great setting. Very satisfying. 🙂